Talking Recruitment

With skills shortages continuing across the UK, could employers be overlooking millions of people who have the skills and potential they need? In this episode of Talking Recruitment, REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry is joined by Neil Wood, Chief Operating Officer at the Fair Chance Business Alliance, and Simon Blockley, CEO UK & Europe at HeadFirst Global, to explore the case for fair chance hiring. There are currently 9.6 million working-age people in the UK with a criminal record, yet outdated recruitment practices, misconceptions and concerns about risk can prevent employers from accessing this significant talent pool. The discussion looks at why fair chance hiring isn't simply about social responsibility, but can be an important part of workforce strategy at a time when employers are struggling to find the skills they need. Neil Wood explains how the Fair Chance Business Alliance and its Unite 1K campaign are helping employers move beyond 'Ban the Box', with practical guidance and a framework for making informed, risk-based hiring decisions. Simon Blockley also explores the role recruiters can play as strategic advisers, helping clients rethink traditional hiring criteria and confidently access overlooked talent. In this episode, you'll hear about: • Why millions of skilled people with criminal records remain overlooked by employers. • The business case for widening talent pools as employers face skills shortages. • How the Fair Chance Business Alliance and Unite 1K are helping employers adopt fair chance hiring. • How businesses can balance managing risk with creating opportunity. • The role recruiters can play in helping clients access overlooked talent and make more informed hiring decisions. • Why inclusive recruitment can deliver benefits for individuals, businesses and wider society. Host: • Neil Carberry, Chief Executive, REC Guests: • Neil Wood, Chief Operating Officer, Fair Chance Business Alliance • Simon Blockley, CEO UK & Europe, HeadFirst Global

AI is transforming recruitment, but technology alone won't create better hiring outcomes. As automation takes care of more administrative tasks, the value recruiters bring is becoming even more human. In this episode of Talking Recruitment, REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry is joined by Laura Tressler, Managing Director, Access Recruitment, and Dominic Waters, Director, Paul Waters Associates, to explore what clients really want from recruiters in an AI-enabled world. From improving hiring decisions and reducing the risk of costly bad hires to preparing for employment law changes that place greater emphasis on getting recruitment right first time, the discussion explores why technology should support, not replace, human judgement. The guests also examine how recruiters can use AI to remove administrative burden, strengthen client relationships and become more strategic advisers. In this episode, you'll hear about: • Why trusted advice is becoming more valuable than transactional recruitment. • How AI can automate administration while creating more time for meaningful conversations. • The importance of getting hiring decisions right first time as employment rights evolve. • Why strong recruitment processes and effective assessment reduce the risk and cost of a bad hire. • How recruiters can use technology to enhance, rather than replace, human judgement. • The skills recruitment leaders should be investing in for the future. Host: • Neil Carberry, Chief Executive, REC Guests: • Laura Tressler, General Manager, Access Recruitment • Dominic Waters, Director, Paul Waters Associates

In this episode of Talking Recruitment, REC Chief Membership and Innovation Officer Maxine Bligh is joined by Jan Govaerts, CEO of theMatchBox, to explore how AI-powered matching is helping recruiters spend less time on administration and more time building relationships, advising clients and making better hiring decisions. The podcast examines where AI is already delivering measurable value, from uncovering candidates hidden within existing databases to improving recruiter productivity. Maxine and Jan also explore the importance of high-quality data, choosing trusted technology partners and avoiding common pitfalls as recruitment businesses invest in AI. They also tackle one of the industry's biggest questions: if employers, candidates and recruiters are all using AI throughout the hiring process, how do you maintain trust, authenticity and human judgement? The conversation explores why recruiter expertise may become even more valuable as AI takes on more routine tasks, and what successful recruitment businesses should be doing now to prepare for the future. In this episode, you'll hear about: >How AI can reduce admin and free recruiters to focus on higher-value work. >Why AI-powered matching goes beyond traditional keyword searches. >Making better use of your existing candidate database. >The importance of data quality and choosing trusted AI providers. >How recruiters can maintain trust and judgement in an AI-enabled hiring process. >Why human relationships remain central to successful recruitment. Host: Maxine Bligh, Chief Membership and Innovation Officer, Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) Guest: Jan Govaerts, CEO, theMatchBox (part of Pixid Group)

A year ago, many recruitment businesses were experimenting with AI. Today, the challenge is no longer whether to use it, but how to use it effectively. In this episode of the Talking Recruitment podcast, REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry is joined by Annie Andrews, CEO of Curo Services, and Dries De Coster, founder of MeetDwight, to explore how AI is moving to practical business application across recruitment. Together, they discuss where agencies are seeing genuine returns, why automation and AI are often confused, and how businesses can avoid mistaking activity for productivity. The conversation examines the importance of understanding workflows before introducing new technology, the risks of automating poor processes, and why many of the biggest opportunities currently lie in middle and back-office operations. The episode also explores the growing importance of governance, data quality and human oversight as AI becomes embedded in recruitment practices and considers what will differentiate successful recruitment businesses in an AI-enabled market. As technology becomes more capable, the guests argue that recruiter judgement, communication skills and trusted human relationships may become even more valuable. Guests: • Annie Andrews, CEO, Curo Services • Dries De Coster, Founder, MeetDwight

In this episode of the Talking Recruitment podcast, Neil Carberry is joined by Sarah Bishop from The Talent Arc and Guy Venables from Maximus to discuss how recruiters, employers and employability organisations can work together to connect more people with meaningful careers. The conversation explores the barriers many young people and underrepresented groups face when entering the workforce, the importance of role models and networks, and why confidence and support can be just as important as skills. Guests also share practical examples of how partnerships between recruiters, employers and employability providers are helping people overcome obstacles, access opportunities and build successful careers. The episode looks at why widening access to talent is not only the right thing to do, but also makes good business sense for employers facing long-term skills and workforce challenges. Guests: • Sarah Bishop – CEO, The Talent Arc • Guy Venables – Regional Director, Maximus UK

In this episode of Talking Recruitment, Olga Frańczak is joined by Beth Foley and Helen Tomlinson to discuss how approaches to equality, diversity and inclusion are changing across recruitment and the wider workplace. The conversation explores how EDI has shifted from awareness campaigns and performative activity towards something more measurable, operational and commercially focused. The guests discuss why inclusion is increasingly being embedded into systems, processes and decision making, and how organisations are being challenged to demonstrate real impact rather than intention. The episode also looks at the role of middle management in shaping workplace culture, the importance of retention and progression, and why psychological safety and inclusive leadership are becoming more important to business performance. Alongside this, the discussion examines how AI and technology are reshaping hiring practices. The guests explore the risks of bias in automated systems, why human judgment still matters, and how recruitment businesses can balance speed and efficiency with fair and inclusive outcomes. The discussion offers a practical discussion on what meaningful inclusion looks like in 2026 and how recruitment businesses can build EDI into long-term business strategy, workforce experience and future growth. Host: • Olga Frańczak, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, REC Guests: • Beth Foley, CRO, Liquid Friday • Helen Tomlinson, Head of Inclusion & Employability at The Adecco Group